Sump or bilge pump



Nov. 4, 1930. l. c. JENNINGS SUMP- OR BILGE PUMP Filed Sept. 6, y1927' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR @f7/yf.

W ATTORNEY;if

NOV. 4, 1930. C JENNINGS 1,780,679

SUMP OR BlLGE PUMP Filed Sept. 6, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR A TTORNEYJ' Nov, 4, 1930. l. c. JENNINGs SUMP OR BILGE PUMP Filed Sept. .6, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IVENTOR Jerzy/y1: BY

9%?44 ATTORNEY:

Nov.` 4, 1930. c. JENNlNGs 1,780,679

SUMP OR BILGE PUMP Filed Sept. -6, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR ATTORNEYS,

` Patented Nev. 4, 1930 PATENT OFFICE mvrNo c. JENNINGs-or sourir NORWALK, CONNECTICUT n SUM? R BI'LGE PUMP Applicationbld September 6, 1927. Serial No. 217,670.

vThe object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sump or bilge pump, by which seepage or drainage water can be' removed from a low point orsump and dischargedat a higher point, as into a sewer. The structure has been particularly designed for usein. buildings, where it is necessary to lift seepage or other water or sewage up into a sewer .at a high level.

The usual apparatus for doing this work consists of a centrifugal pump arranged on al vertical shaft submerged in the sump, and drivenby a motor vertically arranged on top of the sump. This usual structure has the disadvanta es'that it is hard to get at the pump for t e purposes of cleaning and repair, and that it is diilicult to -maintain the pump. in ood working order due to the factthat the earings of the pump are-submerged in the liquid. The motor also' has to be set Over the sump and usually is 1n the way. f

One main design of my present invention is to provide a pump for this purpose which can be arranged on .a horizontal axis and at a distance from the sump. Asa pump of this character is operated intermittently, and as a centrifugal pump in starting cannot operate to lift, it is necessary to provide a device by which the centrifugal pump will start in Operation. To effect this starting, I arrange an air pump in connection with the centrifugal. -I

In using alcom ined centrifugal and .air pump of this character, I have f ound Idiiiiculty in effecting a quick starting ofthe centrifugal and in smoothly in action, as more or less air will come along with the water from time to time. therefore, is to provide an improved connection betweru the air pump ,and the centrifugal so that this objection 'will be Overcome.

- The invention urther comprehends certain improvements? in the structure of the impeller or rotor of the centrifugal pump hereinafter described.

The inventionis shown in detail in the accompanying ve sheets Of drawirugs.

keeping the centrifugal A further purpose t of the invention,-

In said drawings', Figure 1 .is a diagram# matic view illustrating how, my apparatus can be installed horizontally above and away from the sump.

Figure 2vis a partial sectional elevation -On an enlarged scale, of the pumping apparatus.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation through the water and air separator tank.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 60 `11---4 of Figure Af2., i'llustratin the inlet connection, and the air vents or the centrifugal pump. j

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the port plate and air head illustrating the connections. V

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating a modification of the airl connections to the pump.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view on an 70 enlarged scale of the centrifugal pump.

Figure J8 is .a rearvelevation of the impeller. f Y

Figure 9 is a side elevation thereof, and

Figure '10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 7. v The'improvements will be best understood by a'detailed description ofthe parts. Referring to the drawings,4 and in detail, A. designates the sump or well into which the seepage and sewage may flow and into which the drains areconnected. This sump is usually provided with an air Ventilating pipe or vent. An electric switch is arranged in the sump and is controlled by a float. The contents of the sump are removed through a pipe B, which projects down near the bottom of the sump and which extends horizontallyto the pumping apparatus. This pipe may be provided with an-extension or cleanout B', through which a rodor cleaning tool can be inserted. This pipe B is' joined to elbow C, Fig. 2, which is' bolted or connectedto one side of the pump casing. This elbow C' is provided with a cleanout D. E designates the'pump casing, which has a central passage E. F represents the im? peller or centrifugal pump, which is Varranged on the same axis as the inletpassagel E. The volute G .of thev pump is-formed Y the orifice the centrifugal rotor of the air pump are arranged on a common shaft L, which is driven by an electric motor secured by a bracket to the air head I. The air pump is connected by a pipe N to exhaust air and gas from an air and water separator tank' M, and-to discharge the same throu h a pipe O which may be run to waste. water pipe P may be connected to the inlet ofthe air pump at any vdesired point, as through the inlet pipe N, so that the air pump can be prlmed with water.

It is not necessary to describe the operation of the air, pump in detail as the same is well known and understood from the patent before referred to.l v The separator tank M is secured on top of a manifold Q, which is secured on top of the pump casin This manifold has two passages, R -and which connect together at the tog and which communicate with passages and S 1n the water pump casing E. The passage R is provided-with a hole or orifice T, which communicates with the interior of the water pump or volute -ata point outside the inlet eye to the impeller, which is formed by the central inlet passage E and within the d1- ameter of the impeller. The passage S communicates. with the central inlet or water supply E( through a restricted opening U. The passages R and S and R and S thus form a circulating connection between the hole Tand the opening U. The operation of the parts thus far described isfsubstantially as follows? When -the level of the water or sewerage 1n the "sump reaches a predetermined height, the oat operates the electric switch and starts the motor in operation. This will cause the rotary air pump to exhaust air from the pi e B-through elbow C, through 'Ig and the restricted opening U. When the air is exhausted from the pipe B Y and the elbow C, atmospheric pressure will `continues to4 be drawn by force water from the sump Vto the rotating impeller ofthe centrifugal pump. As the water gradually rises in the horizontal inlet connection 'E' to the water pump, 'the air the air pump through the restricted opening U and the orifice T until the horizontal inlet to the' oint gal the air` stl contained in the centri T without aving to travel back against the `direction of ow of the water, as would be vthe case if the opening U were the only means available for the` air to escape. The water and air in the centrifugal pump are mixed together due to the turning of the impeller of the centrifugal pump. The water entering the centrifugal pump, entrains air with it, which has to be eliminated. The impeller of the centrifugal pump causes this water and air to whirl around in the pump casing and as the water is heavier than the air, it displaces the air towards the center of the centrifugal pump, whereit will escape through the orifice T. When the centrifugal pump is completely filled with water, it will pump elciently, drawing wa'ter up through the passage E.. Any additional air which may be drawn up with the water due to leaky connections, or air dissolved in the water, will be forced to the center .of the centrifugal and pass out through the lpassage oriflce T. The centrifugal pump is therefore always kept in eicient operation. The orifice T being slightly ouptside' of the `opening or eye E yconnecting o the centrifugal pump forms, in effect, a small centrifugal pump; water being drawn from the central passage E discharged through the opening T, up through the passage R and R, and returning through the passage S and S', and the opening U.

Any air discharged up through the opening T, with this water, passes out of the water at -the top of the passages R and S and escapes into the separating tank M. If the opening U were not present,l this iow would not occur and the passages R and R might remain full of water, preventing the air accumulating in the centrifugal pump from passing up through the orifice T. By

causing circulation as described above, this air is eliminated rapidly and the centrifugal pump is keptoperating efficiently.

The separating ltank M is provided with a float V which controls a valve W controlling a passage to the atmosphere. If' the water should rise inthe separatingtank M to a level sufficient to operate the float, this valve W opens to the atmosphere at W and the vacuum created by the air pump is broken, which prevents the water risin above thelevel at Lwhich the float is set. This will prevent water drawn from the sump from assin over into the air pump. This is very d)esirab l rangement, thel motor is secured on a base and the pump casing isca'rried by a frame or brac et extending from the motor. In this arrangement, the opening U is are,(because4 the water drawn from the sump-may contain.

lll

carried up to a ysuitable height Z before it is connected to the exhaust pipe N extending to the air pump. The height of the pipe X above its connection with the pipe Y will be determined b the high and low water level p. in the sump, t 1e height of the pipe X from its connection with the pipe Y being made a little greater than the difference between these levels.

A vacuum relief valve VR is arranged at any convenient p'oint in the pipe line ZN. This relief valve is set to operate at a vacuum corresponding with the pressure of the height of water from the upper level of the water line in the sump'to apoint a little' below theI top of thepipe Z, so that it will open and revent the water rising high enough in the gips Z to pass over intothe air pump. This vacuum n relief valve thus performs the function ofthe fioat V and valve W of the device flrst described.

It is usual in sump pumps to employl'a,

strainer. This strainer rapidly ills with dirt and rubbish. and has to be cleaned out f -requently. By providing an impeller of open construction as shown, capable of handling dirt and rubbish, and by arranging thepipe B and elbow C slightly larger than the intake ofthe water pump, any material which cannot be handled by the dirt handling impeller will lodge at the entrance'to the water pump and can be readily removed through the opening covered by the cleanout plate D. As only very large particles will be caught in this manner, the pipe C will not have to be cleaned out except in very rare instances.

. The improved construction of the impeller will now be described and to follow this description, reference should be had to Figures 7, 8, and 9. The impeller F is two-bladedand unwebbed as shown in Figure 7. The im-v peller is secured on the end of the shaft L` by means of a key, and is held in place by a roundednut' 10, Figure 2; threaded on the end or surface on the receiving face or side of they of the shaft L. This provides a smooth face impeller so thatex'traneous matter coming in with the sumpwater will not catch thereon.

The faces of the two blades or wings- 'of the impeller on the side thereof towards the inlet passage E', are gouged or cut out as at 11-'11. It will be noticed that these gouges or reductions in the stock of the impeller extend out beyond the eyeor inside diameter of the inlet passage E. v The bearing faces of the impeller at the right side thereof are the areas outside of the eye, as can'be understoodby reference to Figure 7, where the eye` is shown in dotted lines. Theopposed-bearing faces of the impeller on the left hand side thereof on the right side of the impeller are less inarea than the faces on the left side. The pressure generated in the volute will work down .between theseimpeller faces and the casing and as the pressure area-is greater on the left hand side of the impeller than on the right hand side thereof, the resultant axial pressure will act to push the impeller te the right, as illustrated in the construction shown in Figure 5, and this will act to keep the rotor of the air -pump K in tight engagement with the port plate J.'

It will be noticed that the gouges oi' cut out sections in the impeller extend inside of the area of the inlet eye or the central passage E. Thispermitsa larger inlet to the interior ofthe impeller blades.

It also will be notlced that the construction of the impeller is such that there is very little opportunity .for rubbish or waste to catch thereon.

The details and arrangement herein shown and described may be greatlyA varied bya skilled mechanic without departing from the scope v of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A centrifugal-water pump comprising an impeller, a casing. forming avolute for the impeller, a central inlet passage through the casing forming the inlet eye tothe im-v peller, a continuously open hole or -orilice in the casing communicating with the volute at a point outside the inlet eye and within cape openmgat a high pointfthe impeller co-acting with saidholeor orifice to formin fully described my invention,

an elevated circulating connection effect a small centrifugal pump for pumping A a' small stream of water \out through `said s o1iiiceand back to the inlet passage to carr along and exhaust any air coming 1n throng the inlet' water so as toprevent the pump Y becoming air-bound thereby. 0 3. A- centrifugal waterpump comprising an impeller, a casing forming avolute for the caslng forming the inlet eye to the im' peller, a hole or orifice in the casing'communicating with the volute at a point outside the inlet eye, means for exhausting air through this oritlce, an opening into said inlet, the hole and said opening being connected at a level above the inlet to allow a circulation of water throu h said hole into said opening back into, the lnlet, and means for exhausting air fromthe connection between said hole and opening. A

5. A centrifugal'iwater pump comprising an impeller, a\ casing forming a volute for 'the impeller, a central inlet passage through the casing forming the inlet eye to the impeller, a hole or oriice in the casing communicating with the volute at a point -out side the inlctieye, and Within the diameter of the impeller, an opening into said inlet,

4a connection between said hole and said opening extending to a substantial height above the inlet, and means for exhausting air from the top of said connection. 4

6.`A centrifugal water pump comprising an impeller,` a casing forming a volute for the impeller, a central inlet passage through the casing forming the inlet eye to the impeller, a hole or orifice in the casing communicating with the volute at a'point outside the inlet eye, an opening into the inlet, a irculating connection between said hole an air pump forexhausting -air from said con-V nection, and means :for preventing the water from passing over to the air pump.

7. A centrifugal water pump comprising Y an impeller, acasing forming a volute for the impeller, a central inlet passage through the casing forming the inlet eye` to the impeller, a hole or orifice in the ca sing communicating with thevolute at a polnt outside theinlet eye,-and opening into the central inlet passage, a connection between said hole and said opening extending to asubstantial height above the inlet, a separator tank con'- nected to the/top of said connection, an air suction um connected to said separator tank, and a at in said separator tank con-A -trolllng an open'ng to the atmosphere.

` water pump comprising .an impeller, `af'asing forming a volute for 8. A centnfu the impe11er,fa'eentral inlet' passage through the casing forming the inleteye to the im opening carried up to a substantial Aheight above the central inlet passage, an

peller, a hole or orifice in the casing communicating with thev volute at a pointl outslde the inlet eye, an opening into the central inlet passage, a manifold secured on said casin and having passage@ communicating wit said hole and saidopening so as to form a circulating passage between the same, a separating tank secured on to and having a loat contro ling a connection to the atmosphere, and' a suction air pump connected to the impeller of the water pump to exhaust air from said separating tank.

9L A centrifugal water pump comprising an impeller, a casing forming a volute fory the impeller, a central inlet passage through medium having its rotor connected to turn with the impeller of the oWater Wheel.

10. A centrifugal water pump having an unwebbed bladed impeller, provided with a. smooth surface onv its receiving side, the wings or blades of which are gouged or cut out on the side thereof towards the inlet passage so as to form reductions in the stock of the impeller, said gouges extending out beyond the eye or inside diameter of the inlet passage to the impeller andearranged so that the bearing faces of the impeller blades are less in area than the other side of the impeller.

11. A. pumping apparatus comprisin a the wings or blades of` which are gouged or cut out on the side thereof towards the inlet passage, and a rotary air pum connected to the water pump to start and keep the same in operation, the air pump employing liquid for 'its pumping medium and having a rotor bearing laterally ona port plate, the rotor being connected to and turning with the impeller, the gouges in the blades of the impeller making the impeller faces lessin area on one side than onthe other, the parts being ar- 'ranged so that the resultant axial pressure will vact to keep the rotor of the air pump in engagement wlth its port plate. l

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

IRVING C. JENNINGS:

of the manifold, 

